In Pixar’s Cars 3, what is the name of Lightning McQueen’s high-tech racing rival?

Jackson Storm is Lightning McQueen’s high-tech racing rival in Pixar’s Cars 3.

Storm represents a new generation of racers built around advanced training, modern design, and data-driven performance. His rapid success makes Lightning McQueen question whether an older champion can still compete at the highest level.

The conflict drives the film’s central theme: experience and mentorship versus technological change. Lightning receives help from Cruz Ramirez, a trainer who eventually becomes much more important to the story than he first expects.

Jackson Storm is voiced by Armie Hammer. He is distinct from Chick Hicks, Lightning’s aggressive rival in the first Cars, and from Cal Weathers, a racer connected to the Dinoco racing legacy. Cars 3 was released in 2017 and was directed by Brian Fee.